Chapter 37: "The Man Who Redefined History"

Jiang Chen and Debi scanned the ruins one last time, ensuring they hadn't overlooked anything.

There was nothing more to find.

Jiang Chen checked his terrain scanning locator one last time.

No pathways. No hidden tunnels.

"This should be the bottom," he concluded.

Debi nodded, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. "So this is the end of the expedition?"

Jiang Chen didn't answer right away. His expression remained calm, but inside—

His mind was focused on something else.

A familiar notification sound rang in his head.

Ding—

[Congratulations, host! The hidden mission has been completed! Viewers in the live broadcast room have exceeded 10 million!]

[Host, please claim the hidden mission reward package!]

Another notification followed.

[Congratulations, host! You have completed the second expedition!]

[Host, please claim the main mission reward package!]

Jiang Chen's lips curled into a subtle smirk.

This was exactly what he had been waiting for.

Ding—

[Would the host like to open the hidden mission reward package?]

Without hesitation, Jiang Chen accepted.

Ding—

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained [Space 10]!]

Jiang Chen's eyes flashed with intrigue.

"Ten more spaces?" he muttered. Closing his eyes, he checked his inventory.

Sure enough, a grid-like interface appeared in his mind—now with eleven neatly arranged slots.

Each space functioned separately, allowing him to store different things in different slots.

But then—he noticed something new.

With a simple thought, he could merge multiple spaces together into a larger one.

Then—just as easily—he could separate them again.

Jiang Chen's smirk deepened.

"This ability… is going to be useful."

If he encountered any more massive creatures, like the prehistoric giant salamander—

He could just store them instantly instead of fighting.

The possibilities were endless.

Ding—

[Would the host like to open the main mission reward package?]

Jiang Chen's anticipation grew.

"Open it."

Ding—

A flood of notifications filled his mind.

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained the following rewards—

Weakened Version of Terrain Scanning Locator (Patents, Blueprints, and Manufacturing Equipment) (Stored in inventory)

Prehistoric Ruins Replica (Stored in inventory)

Dark Vision Upgraded to Level 2

Encyclopedia of Terrestrial Biology

Memory Ability Level 1

10 Skill Points]

Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed in thought.

Unlike his first expedition, where he mainly received skills—

This time, the rewards were more diverse.

And the terrain scanning locator—

That was the real jackpot.

The locator had already proven itself indispensable in this expedition. If he hadn't had it, finding pathways and hidden caves would have been nearly impossible.

But what made this reward even more valuable—

He didn't just receive the device.

He received the patents, blueprints, and the manufacturing equipment to produce it himself.

Jiang Chen's mind raced with possibilities.

This wasn't just useful for exploration—

It could be a game-changer for the real world.

Earthquakes. Rescue missions. Underground construction.

If someone was trapped beneath rubble, this scanner could locate survivors instantly.

It had life-saving potential.

Jiang Chen exhaled slowly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"This is just the beginning."

He was no longer just an explorer.

He was about to change the world.

Jiang Chen glanced at the rewards again, mentally sorting through them.

The [Encyclopedia of Terrestrial Biology] was straightforward—it gave him an instant ability to identify and categorize any land-based creature he encountered. That would be invaluable for future expeditions.

The [Dark Vision Upgrade: Level 2] was even better—his visibility in pitch-black environments had now increased by five meters. To him, it would feel as clear as daylight. No more fumbling in the darkness.

The [Memory Ability: Level 1] intrigued him. It gave him the ability to retain an unbelievable amount of information for up to five days before the effects gradually faded. Perfect for absorbing and processing large amounts of data quickly.

Then there were 10 skill points—he'd save those for later.

But one reward left him puzzled.

[Replica of Prehistoric Ruins]?

Jiang Chen frowned. "What does that even mean?"

He decided to put that question aside for now. There would be time to figure it out later.

For now— it was time to leave.

---

The return trip was much faster than the journey in.

When they first arrived, they had been cautious—navigating unknown tunnels, preparing for dangers.

But now?

They knew the terrain.

Even the waterfall climb—which had seemed impossible before—was manageable with the right route.

And then—

They saw daylight.

After fifteen days underground, Jiang Chen and Debi finally emerged.

---

The moment they climbed out of the cave entrance—

A roar erupted.

Hundreds of people were gathered outside, waiting for them.

Emergency response teams, elite rescue squads, medical professionals—ready to assist them.

But that wasn't all.

Reporters.

Scientists.

Wealthy investors.

Government officials.

All waiting.

Jiang Chen blinked. When did this turn into an international event?

The second the medical teams confirmed that he and Debi were in perfect health—

The media swarmed.

---

"Mr. Jiang! You've just broken the world record for the deepest underground human exploration! How do you feel?"

"You also shattered records for discovering vegetation forming an ecosystem at these depths—what are your thoughts?"

"Mr. Jiang! You discovered an underground biological chain, a living prehistoric species, and an entire prehistoric civilization! What does this mean for science?"

"Your findings have extended the timeline of human civilization, overturned the theory of evolution, and reshaped mankind's understanding of history! You've opened a new door for humanity, changed the world, and redefined the human worldview! As a hero of this new era—what do you want to say?"

CNN, BBC, and every major global news outlet had their microphones aimed at him.

Jiang Chen was speechless.

Was it really that big of a deal?

He glanced at Debi, who just smirked.

The reporters stared at him, waiting for a legendary statement—something that would be written in history books.

Jiang Chen just shrugged.

"I don't think I've done anything special," he said, his voice calm.

"I just explored the depths of human history."

---

The world shook.